Career Choices and Regrets..

[Locke]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

My GF is an accountant doing her CA and her hours right now are out of hand. On top of that she has everyone and their dog asking her to do their income tax. The problem with it is she is such a nice person she feels aweful telling her hair dresses friend (whom she has never met and barely knows her hair dresser) no.

All I had to do was tell her "If you do them this year, you will be expected to do them every year." "Oh I never thought about that... i'll tell them no."

Ha! I know how that goes, but thats my business, so thats what I do.

I feel like a lottery winner. For the most part you go by being ignored and then all of a sudden you're the most popular guy around and then when its all done and gone you go back by the wayside.

Its a tough life sometimes, for 3 months a year my life is insane. But it gets made up elsewhere.

[Titan]

Do NOT go to law school unless you know what a lawyer actually does and you have a burning passion to do that. Do not do it just because you don't know what else to do.

The jobs have been okay but the work to money ratio is just not there. After 10 years if you do it right you can have a good life but you have to bust your a$$ to get out of debt and then you can start to make choices for different reasons. Many people get the golden handcuffs and end up hating their lives.

I would not do it again.

If you have any sales acumen at all a career as a financial advisor can be very profitable with a higher than average degree of flexibility. The barriers to entry are also relatively low. The Canadian Securities Course is one you can do on your own at your own speed and it opens up a lot of jobs in the financial services industry that are not necessarily involved in selling. I know people in the compliance field, with the right industry courses, are highly sought after.

[Sainters7]

I wish I would've given my initial career (broadcasting) more of a shot before I went back to school. Was in the field a little over a year, and was actually doing alright in terms of movement. Had a decent job opportunity south of the border, but I waffled. It was a combo of listening to way too many horror stories about the industry (pitiful $$ unless you're in that top 10% or so, bad job security), and just being young when I graduated (20), I just quite simply wasn't ready to go into my career at that point, I was lonely and miserable in a small town (typical first job in the industry) and just wanted to come home to my friends/fam. That and I really felt I needed a degree under my belt. So I went back to school (just graduated in Dec), and now I don't even really like the career I'm in, I have next to no passion for it, unlike my initial career. I just wish I would've given it one more year before I threw in the towel, in hindsight I realize I didn't even give it much of a chance. That and I think I was much better at broadcasting than my current career.

I justify going back to school by telling myself that even if I don't end up in my new career long term, at least I can put that university degree on my resume, plus I never would've met my girl had I not gone back. But sometimes I really wonder what could've been had I taken that job..

[Titan]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

I agree with everything you said except this. Job experience if it pertains to what you are applying for trumps a degree simply because its shows you've been able to perform already. All a degree shows is that you can work hard and ought to be capable. Most degrees arent direct training for the job you will be performing, where as on the job experience demonstrates you already know the role. This only applies if you're moving from one job to another in the same field.

I agree with this. A Bachelors degree is quickly losing its lustre, imo, and the guy with direct, or similar, experience will always have the inside track.

In fact I am not sure a Bachelors, in and of itself, is all that big a deal. It is mostly relevant for industries that have minimal requirements for entry level positions. Then the person with the degree will be ahead of the person without. Past that, unless it is directly related, it is not all that relevant.

[The Yen Man]

The thing with undergrad degrees is that you learn a lot of conceptual topics on a broad range. You won't use 80% of what you learn. Instead, you'll be focused on that other 20% and developing it in your career. Does it help to have knowledge of that other 80%? Absolutely. But really, if you never use it, you lose it. And then you're pretty much back on the same level as someone who didn't go through the undergrad program, but in a similar role as you at your company.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

It seems to me like our society is trending towards everyone having some sort of post secondary education. I've noticed that post secondary is the new high school diploma, and designations and MBAs are the new university degrees. Kids coming out of high school are facing more and more competition from every direction. It really is important to equip yourself the best you can with all the tools to be successful, and I think education is one of the most important tools you can give yourself.

This is very true. As someone said above, a university degree just teaches you how to learn, that you know what a job is and can do it. As one of my (engineering) professors said, the goal of your degree is to pick up any scientific textbook - related to your field or not - and understand it. Or you can pick up any tutorial and learn it yourself how to program, use the instrumentation, etc.

Even a masters degree is becoming too common, a masters degree is to undergrad degree - it means you got a small introduction to one specialization, spent a few months looking into a particular field and now you are working. My graduate degree is kind of related to what I do now, but there's still a universe I don't know even with a masters degree. Continuing that thought, a PhD is the new masters degree (at least in my field) and its not till you have a few patents and papers that you start to be something special.

Until then, you can come from some of the best schools in the world, and still not stick out or be special... unless you really are special.

[Jbo]

One thing I will say about a University degree is that some people really do not take part in the "networking" it allows for. I find that the Calgary Business community is fairly small. Every single day I see people from my Uni downtown, going for lunches, meeting up for beers/coffee.

I was not a straight A student or rocking a 3.8 GPA, but I was socially involved and am thankful for it. In business, the mantra of "it is not what you know, but who you know" rings very true.

Many oppurtunities and realtionships have presented themselves since coming home. So those of you killing yourself for grades...get out and be involved with as many people as possible.

[flamesfever]

nm

[chummer]

Went to University and have a degree in Economics.I had no idea what I wanted to do but I knew I wanted nothing to do with Econ.....boring as hell.

A few years after graduating I applied to the Calgary Fire Department.I took me 3 tries,20 years later I still love the job.

My only regret,not getting a trade instead of a degree.

[Mass_nerder]

Originally Posted by flames85

I know exactly how you felt. I make $15 since hire and still do now 7 months later. Frustrating considering I made $24 cutting grass last summer as a student. Question to anyone... what are the requirements for raises? do they have to give a raise after 3,6,12 months?? or is there no requirement?

I don't make much more than that, and I have close to 3 years experience, all with the same firm.
I was led to believe, from teachers in my department, that in our field, we're usually hired at a pretty low rate for a 3 month trial, at which point they review your work, and either drop you, or bump up your salary to something more reasonable.
Long story short, I'm still waiting on a salary increase that I was expecting after 3 months.

I have seen two (three coming soon) yearly performance reviews now, and I've pretty much lost all hope that I will ever get any salary increase. Instead, I've decided to go back to school and become an architect.
I still love the industry, but it's painfully clear that there's not much room for advancement, with what I have.

[rohara66]

Another architectural technologist here..... been at it for 7 years. Not sure how I'm going to do another 35+ years.

[TylerSVT]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

I agree with everything you said except this. Job experience if it pertains to what you are applying for trumps a degree simply because its shows you've been able to perform already. All a degree shows is that you can work hard and ought to be capable. Most degrees arent direct training for the job you will be performing, where as on the job experience demonstrates you already know the role. This only applies if you're moving from one job to another in the same field.

I totally agree with that, i meant more or less if you ever plan on switching jobs or industry.

Working from HS at a bank and running a branch for 2 years probably looks worse than an accounting Bcomm and 4 years experience in an energy firm.

Its harder to switch industries or jobs with no degree than it is with one.

[TylerSVT]

Originally Posted by J-bo09

One thing I will say about a University degree is that some people really do not take part in the "networking" it allows for. I find that the Calgary Business community is fairly small. Every single day I see people from my Uni downtown, going for lunches, meeting up for beers/coffee.

I was not a straight A student or rocking a 3.8 GPA, but I was socially involved and am thankful for it. In business, the mantra of "it is not what you know, but who you know" rings very true.

Many oppurtunities and realtionships have presented themselves since coming home. So those of you killing yourself for grades...get out and be involved with as many people as possible.

+1

My Cousin has a Geology degree, at age 35 he was making north of 200 grand a year with an acreage and money to spend, He is now an executive at age 40 all because he knew how to network, he made friends with the right people, partied and got in the "in crowd" and has really made a name for himself, people know my last name because of him.

Its a very very important part of life, you have to realize too, that people remember things, people you wernt nice to in HS or University might end up being a barrier or entry to a job/promotion etc. I watch EVERYTHING i do because i never know who my potential employer will be, i never talk bad about people or gossip, i work hard and try to be as personable and approachable as possible. Hopefully it benefits me in the future.

[Galakanokis]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

I wish I would've given my initial career (broadcasting) more of a shot before I went back to school. Was in the field a little over a year, and was actually doing alright in terms of movement. Had a decent job opportunity south of the border, but I waffled. It was a combo of listening to way too many horror stories about the industry (pitiful $$ unless you're in that top 10% or so, bad job security), and just being young when I graduated (20), I just quite simply wasn't ready to go into my career at that point, I was lonely and miserable in a small town (typical first job in the industry) and just wanted to come home to my friends/fam. That and I really felt I needed a degree under my belt. So I went back to school (just graduated in Dec), and now I don't even really like the career I'm in, I have next to no passion for it, unlike my initial career. I just wish I would've given it one more year before I threw in the towel, in hindsight I realize I didn't even give it much of a chance. That and I think I was much better at broadcasting than my current career.

I justify going back to school by telling myself that even if I don't end up in my new career long term, at least I can put that university degree on my resume, plus I never would've met my girl had I not gone back. But sometimes I really wonder what could've been had I taken that job..

Broadcasting can be tough but I must admit I really enjoyed my time in a small rinky dink town working for a radio/tv station. The money sucked but everyone that worked at the station was in the same boat of being poor and having no family around. We all bonded pretty closely and they are some of my best friends 15 years later. It really was a very cool experience.

Some moved on from the industry but others stuck it out and are reporters in Calgary, Edmonton and doing quite well. I stayed in a related field but work in post production. I look back at that time up north with great fondness and would love to get back there when I am a little more advanced in age.

[COGENT]

I initially went to school to be a computer engineer, got half way done and decided to not pursue it anymore, I was young and didn't know if that was what I wanted to do for a career. A few years later I went back to school for something completely different and now have a decent career. I wish I finished the computer engineering regardless if it ended up being my career or not, it would allow me to always have options. I do love what i do now though.

[Traditional_Ale]

I've been a music geek my whole life. Obsessed is more the right word. Through school I took as much music as I could, practiced my ass off, and managed to get to see a lot of the world. Then I went to post-secondary for Music Education and absolutely hated it. It was really crushing, because all I had ever dreamed of being was a band teacher and when I realized what the four years would entail (listening to pompus windbags ejaculating their divine wisdom in my face) I left. Stopped playing altogether for a couple years and did nothing but party.

At 21 I went to audio school in Toronto and it was freaking awesome! I loved everything. Recording, MIDI and synthesizers, live sound...oh wow! So I came back to Calgary, got a loan, and purchased a killer PA system. Since then I've done probably 500+ shows as an engineer as well as produced demos for lots of different local artists. I own a killer home studio, and probably about $15,000 in software alone, let alone the microphones, instruments, etc etc. If you ever go to the Blind Beggar, most of the T-shirts in the rafters are shows I engineered there.

About three years ago I had simply had enough of starving. It's really cool driving all over the province to play shows and getting paid for it but the money was never anything more than pitiful, so I got a day job building custom battery packs for a whole schwack of applications. Medical equipment, oil-field, etc etc etc. It's like I can't believe there's guys in this thread who went to Uni to be draftspeople and they only make $15/hr and so that kind of makes me feel a bit better!

The problem, or blessing, is that this company is so awesome to me. Boss loves me like a son, I work with great people and we have a blast. They also give me all the time off I need to do music. I've been here three years now. With that in mind, I now find myself completely unmotivated to drag out truck-loads of gear to do shows! Aside from one-offs here and there, I haven't engineered in over a year. Didn't see this coming.

So, as of now I am almost out of debt and rather than engineer shows I find myself practicing 2+ hours a day again and taking lessons from a master. Ironic that at 28, after everything, it's all come full circle and it's like being eight years old again. I can't make it in teaching, and I don't want to do engineering anymore, so I guess it means I'm going to have to become a professional player. I haven't taken playing all that seriously since I was in high school, but since I started so young I have always been decent enough to participate in jams without embarassing myself but I am not a true pro player yet. Its been 2+ hours a day for about six months now and I am starting to show some serious skill yet there is still lots to go. But it's a waste in Calgary.

Essentially, I'm happy the company is expanding into Toronto, so I get to move there and hopefully am skilly enough to land some real gigs there as a player, make a reputation, and get picked up for some high-end gigs. Luckily though, I will have the 9-5 M-F to keep the music fun. Some people can handle it as a job even in the beginning when you're a nobody and get paid s***. I can't do it. The music isn't fun when you're starving.

[Morozee]

Wow, alot of draftsperson/technologists here. I don't know if anyone will find it helpful, but I will elaborate on my experience as a Draftsperson. I posted the following in the Ways to Save Money Thread:

Originally Posted by Morozee

I was a draftsperson for about 3 years, from 2000 to 2002. I worked for 2 different companies in Saskatchewan and Alberta, and figured out after about the 2nd year this was not a job I wanted to make a career out of. The pay was one issue, the other was sitting in front of a computer for 8-12 hours a day. It got old with me fast. My new career pays better, but it is dysfunctional in other ways. I don't hate it, but I don't love it either. It's tolerable and pays the bills. I'm 7 years into my new career, I'm 30 years old and I still may yet change careers again. No one says you gotta pick one thing and do it forever.

I have no regrets, it was an experience. I paid down my student debt in those three years and saved some money that eventually went towards the down payment on my first home. Also soon after I quit my drafting job and moved back to Manitoba I met my wife! I never would have met her if I didn't leave Alberta to go back to school... no regrets!

I actually took the Architectural CAD Technology course at Red River College in Winnipeg in 1999/2000. I never did work anywhere close to the Architectural field. There were very few jobs in Winnipeg at the time. My first job I mentioned in the above post was for a playground company in Saskatchewan. I started in the sales department doing plan views and 3D perspectives for the sales people across Canada. A one man show, my phone ringing continuously and faxes/emails piling up from the sales people and distributors. Starting salary, a whooping $2000 a month. So about $11.54/hr. Then I got "promoted" to the production department. $2500 a month, or about 14.42/hr.

After almost 2 years of that place I found a new job with a land survey company in Lloyminster, AB. I was classified as a "Jr. Draftsmen" and starting wage was around $14.00/hr. When I finally left a year later my wage wasn't much more than that.

It sounds like things haven't changed much in terms of pay 10 years later. But as I said, it wasn't just the pay in my case. Sitting in front of a computer all day was not something I could see myself doing for the rest of my working life.

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by chummer

Went to University and have a degree in Economics.I had no idea what I wanted to do but I knew I wanted nothing to do with Econ.....boring as hell.

Although my decision has been a long while coming, this thread has played a role in today's choice......I've stopped pursuing a Management degree, and opted to work towards a BA instead. There are a few credits that won't transfer, but that's a pretty minor inconvenience in the long run.

Hearing other people voice the same thoughts I've had in my head was extremely valuable. It clarified that I'm not "Over thinking it" and that my desire/rationale was entirely valid. Thanks CP, much appreciated.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by WilsonFourTwo

Although my decision has been a long while coming, this thread has played a role in today's choice......I've stopped pursuing a Management degree, and opted to work towards a BA instead. There are a few credits that won't transfer, but that's a pretty minor inconvenience in the long run.

Hearing other people voice the same thoughts I've had in my head was extremely valuable. It clarified that I'm not "Over thinking it" and that my desire/rationale was entirely valid. Thanks CP, much appreciated.

I guess it depends what you want to do as a career. If your thinking anything in business, why not just get the management degree, should be the same # of credits required (even less if you're not losing some on transfer).

Just can't see a case (graduate studies aside) where a BA will outweigh a Bcomm. They're highly equal in many regards, but in the few cases where it does matter, a Bcomm will serve you better.

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by Ducay

I guess it depends what you want to do as a career. If your thinking anything in business, why not just get the management degree, should be the same # of credits required (even less if you're not losing some on transfer).

Just can't see a case (graduate studies aside) where a BA will outweigh a Bcomm. They're highly equal in many regards, but in the few cases where it does matter, a Bcomm will serve you better.

That's definitely where my mindset has been, and is why I chose management in the first place. I figured I'd stay in the private sector until 40-45ish, and then move into public service. I've had a good/great 15 years in business, but it's clearly time to move on.....about 10 years earlier than expected.

My mother (of all people) asked me the lame "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?" question. The answer was "Dunno....Not-for-profit, or Foreign Affairs, perhaps a policy shop like the CD Howe Institute or chasing a law degree". Business wasn't even on the radar....a bit surprisingly!